What is the Sacramental joining of one man and one woman in a free, faithful, fruitful, and indissoluble union called?

• A. Marriage
• B. Baptism
• C. Confirmation
• D. Eucharist

Answer: (A)

Marriage is the sacramental joining of one man and one woman in a free, faithful, fruitful, and indissoluble union. In this sacrament, a lifelong covenant is established by God, through the freely given consent of the spouses, and it serves as a powerful sign of Christ’s love for the Church. The four qualities describe its depth: freedom to choose each other without coercion, fidelity and exclusive commitment, openness to life and the good of the family, and a bond that lasts until death. The grace of this sacrament helps spouses love one another, support each other in daily life, and raise children within a loving home. Other sacraments have different purposes—Baptism welcomes a person into the Christian community, Confirmation strengthens that grace, and the Eucharist nourishes us with Christ’s Body and Blood—so they are not describing a marital union.